Is it possible to have a fixed uitableview Header while using sections? - ios

Question

This question should not be mixed up with this here.. These are two different things.
There is a good example how to use a UITableView Header on SO.
This all works fine and the main header is fixed on top as long as the style is set to plain.
But if I use sections, the main header no longer sticks to top and moves away while scrolling to the bottom.
In this method, I am returning the header for each section.
- (UIView *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView viewForHeaderInSection:(NSInteger)section
In this method I am setting the height for the header section above:
- (CGFloat) tableView:(UITableView *)tableView heightForHeaderInSection:(NSInteger)section
In this method, I am setting the real table header.
- (void)viewWillAppear:(BOOL)animated {
...
self.recordTableView.tableHeaderView = headerView;
}
Is it even possible having a fixed table header, while using sections?
What is an alternative solution to this please?

Answer 1

If you want a UITableViewController (static cells/keyboard handling) and have a fixed header then you should use Containment. You can do this from a Storyboard by setting up a UIViewController with your fixed header and then using a Container View to embed the UITableViewController.
Once you have your containing view setup, you right-click drag from the Container View to the View Controller you want to embed - the UITableViewController in this case.
You can access and get a reference to the contained View Controller (the UITableViewController) from the Container View Controller by implementing the prepareForSegue:sender: method.

Answer 2

There’s no way to maintain the header of a tableView fixed, but
an useful approach when you need a unique header, is to use a UIViewController rather than a UITableViewController, and set the header (UIView) out from the tableView.
Something like this:

Answer 3

If you want to keep the class as a UITableViewController you can add your header as a subview to the tableview's superview. You will have to also push the tableview top inset down so your headerview doesnt hide the table.
Here is a sample code to put inside your tableViewController subclass (This example assumes your tableview controller is inside a navigation controller, so it pushes the view to below the navigation bar):
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];
// Do any additional setup after loading the view.
self.automaticallyAdjustsScrollViewInsets = NO;
}
-(void)addHeaderView{
CGFloat yPosition = self.navigationController.navigationBar.frame.origin.y + self.navigationController.navigationBar.frame.size.height;
mainHeaderView = [[UIView alloc] init];
const CGFloat mainHeaderHeight = 44;
[mainHeaderView setFrame:CGRectMake(0, yPosition, self.view.frame.size.width, mainHeaderHeight)];
mainHeaderView.backgroundColor = [UIColor redColor];
[self.tableView.superview addSubview:mainHeaderView];
[self.tableView setContentInset:UIEdgeInsetsMake(yPosition + mainHeaderHeight, self.tableView.contentInset.left, self.tableView.contentInset.bottom, self.tableView.contentInset.right)];
}

Answer 4

I haven't done this, but the first thing I would think to try is to place my tableview in a UIView and make my own header there in that UIView. Seems a trivial matter to make that view appear to be the header of the table and it would certainly stay put.